The relationship between traditional Chinese Medicine body constitution and dysphonia

Abstract

The study investigated the relationship between Traditional Chinese Medicine Body Constitution and dysphonia. Non-dysphonic and dysphonic subjects were recruited from voice clinics of the University of Hong Kong and some individuals voluntarily completed the questionnaire online in hope of finding out their TCM Body Constitutions. The severity of dysphonia and the subjects’ Body Constitutions were determined by a questionnaire addressing severity of dysphonia and preliminary diagnosis of Body Constitutions. The results showed that significantly higher proportion of dysphonic subjects exhibited dominant body Type than non-dysphonic subjects. Specifically, significantly higher proportion of mild-dysphonic subjects showed Qi-depressed Body Constitution; while significantly higher proportion of moderate-dysphonic subjects exhibited Wetness-heat Body Constitution. The significant differences and the possible justification would be discussed.